Too Much Product

Tom M

I walk in a flooring supplier I havent seen dealt with in over a year and find an old customer working there. Anyway I am familiar with some products but not an authority on the whole thing and I have 3 things going on that if they go through I will have a need for flooring. I figuire I will get some numbers and info to be up to date. Oh my god. My head was spinning after 10 minutes and I dont think I got far. Product A is inexpensive in this color but cost more in that color and you need a better sub floor and thicker padding bringing it to a cost similar to product B which is more expensive but requires less labor and less sub floor prep and so on. Glued, not glued, veneered, solid, engineered....go to a wider plank or thickness and all changes again. Everything these days is flooded with product. Kitchens, tile, decks, siding I remember when customers were only familiar with products that there contractor recommended and sold them. I could just ask a sub whats what and what they recommend and put an allowance on it and be out of it. This salesperson is the wife of a flooring contractor that went to the union and now his son is trying to get in the electrical union so shes familiar with the trades. She says "I havent seen you", I say " I ve been kinda slow. She says under her breath that the sales staff is dropping like flies cause no one is reaching there quota. They have been hurting. Is it because there is just to much product and too many indians with there hands in the pot? Or what? Its just not worth doing anymore. You mind as well be beating yourself over the head to continue.

bonny scotland

its the same over here , you estimate a job and the customer tells you that they can get this flooring cheaper per sq ft and laid for less than you quote by the supplier because it s made out of this stuff that stuff or that door she wants is cheaper than you can supply because she can it get from DIY warehouse and a friend of a friend who is a plumber or electrician can supply this style, that style the next style, so your right I don't bother anymore and when asked to do private work I just tell them to bugger off .

Tom M

Its unbelievable the variation. You need a product only you choose to deal with and that only you and your sub is has regularly familiar with in both cost and sytem installation. But if you do this your turning away work.

bonny scotland

yes mabye so but those Kind of customers I just do not want because they are the kind of people who hang over your head when you are dong the work and constantly picking faults, You get to know that type of customer and I will turn them away every time.

As for suppliers with sales quotas , Use them to your advantage because if they have sales targets to meet and your a good negotiator then the ball is at your foot and not his. Go grab a bargain

Tom M

All said and done when I left that place I set a up 10%-15% refferral fee that benefits me to not get involved. I send them there with an allowance and a suggested system. The customer deals with them and schools them and I get a check for percentage. The material is sent to the job and paid for by the client, Im off the hook. The real issue is the complexity of options. I dont want to mislead my customers with unrealistic expenses. I just want them to have good experience with my company.

bonny scotland

yes i know what you are saying about to much choice , and with good customers and flexible suppliers I would say that you have produced a winner there and saved yourself a lot, of hassle running around gathering materials, the customer gets what they want ,you get the free time to pursue more work and everybody is happy .

Brilliant

Tom M

Thank you well see.

bonny scotland

no problem , nice chatting with you